Strongmen Storm the Capitol For A Stronger Climate Bill

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on climate legislation took place today, officially kickoff the Senate's consideration of a climate and energy bill. To underscore the message that we need "strong" legislation, a group of young activists, dressed in musclemen outfits, came to the Capitol to demand action.The strongmen did their "climate bill workout" and asked Senators to "flex their own legislative muscles." They said that they want a strong climate bill to tackle our greenhouse gas problem and show the world that the U.S. is serious about stopping global warming.

The musclemen also wore t-shirts that read, "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," alluding to the Kanye West song. They want increased "harder on coal plants, better renewable portfolio standard and investments in international adaptation, faster emissions reduction targets and, more generally, stronger leadership and a stronger bill."

Here's another clever detail. Later, after their "workout," the strongmen delivered custom 5 pound weights encouraging the Senators to "lose 40 percent of carbon emission fat." The House climate bill calls for emission reduction targets of only 4 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, a target that has many concerned.

The activists encouraged Congress to "consult its personal trainer, the EPA, periodically to keep on track with the science." Under the House bill, the EPA would lose its ability to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act.